C.J. Allen Upper Extremity & Hand Therapy provides certified hand therapy to patients throughout St. James, Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue and the surrounding North Shore. Our practice treats the upper extremity exclusively.
A Single-Specialty Practice
We do not treat backs, knees or hips. Every therapist here works on hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders, and holds or is working toward the Certified Hand Therapist credential — which requires years of dedicated upper-extremity practice and a comprehensive examination to obtain.
Conditions We Treat
- Carpal tunnel syndrome — night splinting, nerve gliding and post-surgical care.
- Trigger finger — conservative treatment before injection or surgery where possible.
- Arthritis of the thumb and hand — a frequent concern among our older St. James patients.
- Fractures of the wrist, hand and fingers.
- Tendon injuries, including post-repair protocols.
- Nerve injuries and sensory re-education.
- Sports and overuse injuries — including golf and racquet-sport complaints.
Custom Splinting Made On Site
Orthoses are fabricated in the clinic and molded to your hand. For thumb arthritis in particular — one of the most common conditions we see — a properly fitted thumb spica can meaningfully reduce daily pain without medication.
After Hand Surgery
We work from your surgeon's protocol, coordinate directly with their office, and time progression to how your tissue is actually responding. Much of our caseload arrives by direct surgeon referral for exactly this reason.
Arthritis and Staying Independent
Hand arthritis tends to be accepted as an inevitability. It often is not. Joint protection technique, adaptive tools, targeted strengthening and a well-made orthosis can preserve grip and independence for years — opening jars, turning keys, gardening, holding a book without pain.
What to Expect
Your first visit is an evaluation of motion, strength, sensation and function, followed by a plan with an honest timeline. Sessions are one-on-one with the same therapist, and you will leave with a home program that fits your actual routine.
Signs You Should Be Evaluated
Numbness or tingling in the fingers, night pain that interrupts sleep, a finger that catches or locks, swelling that will not settle, a grip that has weakened, or difficulty with buttons, jars and keys. These conditions are frequently treated as things to live with. Most respond considerably better when addressed early.
Hand Therapy Versus General Physical Therapy
General physical therapy treats the whole body. Hand therapy is a post-professional specialization confined to the upper extremity, with skills a general clinic usually does not offer — on-site custom orthotic fabrication, sensory re-education after nerve injury, and detailed knowledge of the surgical protocols that determine what a healing repair may safely do week by week.
What to Bring to Your First Visit
Your insurance card and photo ID, any prescription or protocol from your physician or surgeon, imaging reports if you have them, and any splint you have already been given. Come with a short list of the specific things your hand is stopping you from doing — those become the goals we track.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
Four to six weeks for many straightforward conditions; three to four months for post-surgical rehabilitation. We give you an honest estimate at the evaluation and revise it openly rather than leaving an unrealistic expectation in place.
Getting Here From St. James
Our Smithtown office is a short drive west via Route 25A (North Country Road) or south on Lake Avenue to East Main Street — usually under ten minutes from most of St. James. Our Hauppauge office on Joshuas Path is also available if it better suits your schedule.
Appointments
Call (631) 761-6996 or request an appointment online. Most insurance accepted — our team will assist with insurance verification and help coordinate your care.